Pile driving

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for driving a tubular pile into the ground characterized by filling and retaining a column of liquid in a substantially static condition in the pile, said column extending from substantially the bottom of the pile to a point located a predetermined distance below the top of the pile, while applying driving forces directly to the top of the pile.

United States Patent [1 1 Hartzell Oct. 23, 1973 PILE DRIVING 5,406,524 10 1968 Blenkarn et a1. 61 555 Inventor: Carl Daniel e Oa l n NJ 3,646,598 I 2/1972 Chelmmskr 61/535 [73] Assignee: sayrlorrlldYlnter-national Inc., New Primary Examiner jacob Shapiro or Attorney-Joseph M. Fitzpatrick et a1.

[22] Filed: Mar. 9, 1972 Method and apparatus for driving a tubular pile into 2 I fi 3' ;6 :342; the ground characterrzed by filling and retaining a col- [58] Field of Search 61 /53.5, 53.7, 53.72, F hqud a subst?ntally the 61/6} 175/21 56 pile, sa1d column extending from substantlally the bot- V tom of the pile to a point located a predetermined dis- [561 UNITED STATES PATENTS v y p p 3,620,026 11/1971 Mallard 61/53.72 X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures asc/u/vo FILE DRIVING This invention relates to a method and apparatus for driving piles into the earth, suchas are used for building or other structural foundations, or the like.

While many different types of apparatus for driving piles have been used with reasonable success heretofore, my contribution to the art is the provision of new apparatus which is an improvement over such prior art apparatus, as will become apparent as the description proceeds. Related patents in this art include U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,524 issued Oct. 22, 1968; U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,295 issued Apr. 4, 1967; U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,846 issued Mar. 21, 1961 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,585 issued May I, 1956. U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,524 is directed to the vibratory driving of tubular piles by providing a column of liquid inside the pile and applying a cyclic stress directly to the upper part of the liquid column by means of a fluid piston at approximately the resonant longitudinal frequency of the column of liquid. According to the patent, the alternating component of the pressure in the liquid column is transmitted to the confining wall of the pile which is in contact with the ground in order to produce alternating radial deformation of the pile so as to decrease the skin friction between the pile and the contacting ground. Separate means are employed for simultaneously applying an axial force to the pile. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,312,295; 2,975,846 and 2,743,585, the outside of the tubular pile is surrounded with the same fluid which is on the internal side of the pile. That is, these piles are for use in underwater installations, and the fact that there is water inside the pile is incidental to the driving of the pile. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,975,846 and 2,743,585, the bottom of the tubular pile is left completely open. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,312,295, the liquid contained therein is in an essentially rapidly flowing condition, thereby providing a generally washing action at the impacting face of the pile.

In order to accomplish-the desired results, I provide, in one form of my invention, a newand improved method of driving a substnatially closed bottom tubular pile comprising the steps of filling the pile with a column of liquid which extends from substantially the bottom of the pile to a point located a predetermined distance below the top of the pile. The next step, according to my method, is retaining the fluid in substantially static flow condition while applying driving forces, either by vibrations or hammer blows, to the top of the pile thereby to effect a water hammer-like action for drivingthe pile.

In conformity with another form of the invention, there is provided apparatus for pile driving characterized by a substantially closed bottom tubular pile for containing a column of liquid therein which extends from substantially the bottom of the pile to a point located a predetermined distance below the top of the pile. Oscillator means are provided for applying vibratory forces directly to the top of said pile.

There has been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention thatwill be described more fully hereinafter. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal medial, sectional view showing a tubular pile containing a column of liquid being driven into the ground in accordance with the concept of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the tubular pile-towards the end of the driving operation;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, medial, longitudinal, sectional view of the lower end of the column of liquid between the water hammer effectsj and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lower portion of the column of the pile during the water hammer effect.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the apparatus for pile driving includes an elongated tubular pile 10 for driving into the ground 12. A bottom or boot-plate 14 is mounted on the bottom of the pile 10, and a column of liquid 16 is contained therein. The column extends from the bottom of the pile to a level 18 located a predetermined distance 19 below the top of the pile. The liquid is supplied by suitable means such as a pump 20 which discharges through an inlet'pipe 22 to an inlet opening 24 provided in the pile for the purpose. Any suitable liquid may be employed such as water, for example. i

Oscillating means 26 are provided for applying a vi-. bratory force directly to the top of the pile. Such oscillating means may be of any suitabletype, such as mechanical, hydraulic or electronic, for example. The frequency of the vibrations are such as to effect a water hammer-like action at the bottom of the pile'when the lower end of the pile l0 and the column of liquid 16 tend to expand as seen in FIG. 4, thereby forcing the earth therearound away. This is, the lower end of the pile and the column of liquid alternate at a high frequency between their positions as seenin FIG. 3, and

their positions as seen in FIG. 4, move downwardly.

The bottom or boot plate 14 is provided with openings 28 to provide a jet. action adjacent the bottom of the pile for assisting in the driving of the pile by softening the surrounding soil. I

In operation, the method of driving the closed bottom pile to the ground involves flrstsupplying the pile 10 with a column of liquid 16. As can be seen in the drawing, this column extends from substantially the bottom of the pile to a level 18 located a predetermined distance below the top of the pile. Thereafter, driving forces from the oscillating means'are applied directly to the top of the pile to effect a water hammer-like action for driving the pile. This water hammer serves .to drive the pile much more effectively than is the case where driving forces are applied to'the water column itself or are applied-to the pile without thec'olurnn' of water. I i

The present invention providesan improved method and apparatus for driving piles which permits more rigid and effective driving of the pile, which minimizes so that the pile can 1 or eliminates losses inherent in prior art system,s which is superior in simplicity, ecomony and efficiency as compared to prior art such methods and apparatus.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile comprising the steps of providing a column of liquid inside said pile, said column extending from substantially the bottom of the pile to a level located a predetermined distance below the top of said pile, retaining said column in substantially static flow condition while applying driving forces directly to the top of said pile. I

2. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile according to claim 1, wherein said driving forces are vibratory.

3. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile according to claim 1, further comprising the step of directing a plurality of jets of fluid substantially downwardly from the bottom of the pile while applying said vibratory force directly to the top of said pile.

4. Apparatus for pile driving, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed bottom tubular pile containing a column of liquid therein, said column of liquid extending substantially from the bottom of the pile to a level located a predetermined distance below the top of said pile, and driving means connected to said pile for applying driving forces directly to the top of said pile.

downwardly directed opening therethrough. 

1. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile comprising the steps of providing a column of liquid inside said pile, said column extending from substantially the bottom of the pile to a level located a predetermined distance below the top of said pile, retaining said column in substantially static flow condition while applying driving forces directly to the top of said pile.
 2. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile according to claim 1, wherein said driving forces are vibratory.
 3. A method of driving a substantially closed bottom tubular pile according to claim 1, further comprising the step of directing a plurality of jets of fluid substantially downwardly from the bottom of the pile while applying said vibratory force directly to the top of said pile.
 4. Apparatus for pile driving, said apparatus comprising a substantially closed bottom tubular pile containing a column of liquid therein, said column of liquid extending substantially from the bottom of the pile to a level located a predetermined distance below the top of said pile, and driving means connected to said pile for applying driving forces directly to the top of said pile.
 5. Apparatus for pile driving according to claim 4, wherein said driving means comprises a vibratory driver.
 6. Apparatus for pile driving according to claim 4, further including means for supplying liquid to said tubular pile.
 7. Apparatus for pile driving according to claim 4, further comprising a boot-plate at the bottom of said pile.
 8. Apparatus for pile driving according to claim 7, wherein said boot-plate is formed with at least one downwardly directed opening therethrough. 